What's On in Northumberland

Last updated: Tuesday 10 November 2026

This is our running guide to what's on in Northumberland. We update it every week: new events go in, past ones come out, and our picks change with the season. If you only bookmark one page for planning a day out, make it this one.

For the full list with dates, times, prices and maps, see What's On.

This Week

• Brocksbushes Christmas Fayre (Thu 12 – Sun 15 Nov), near Hexham — more than 70 stalls, festive food and live music just off the A69, with free parking. A reliable start to the Christmas shopping.
• Morpeth Christmas Lights Switch-On (Sat 14 Nov) — the first of the county's big switch-ons, with family activities on Bridge Street from midday.
• A Christmas Carousel opens at Bamburgh Castle (from Sat 14 Nov) — the state rooms dressed around favourite carols and Christmas songs, included in normal admission.
• Walking with The Snowman at Belsay (on now) — twelve giant Snowman sculptures on a trail through the grounds. A good one for a crisp morning.

Coming Up

Late November

• Alnwick's big night (Fri 20 Nov) — the town lights go on at 7pm on Bondgate Within, and Winter Lights opens at The Alnwick Garden the same evening. Book the Garden ahead.
• Blyth Christmas Lights Switch-On (Sat 21 Nov) — a full day of entertainment in the Market Place, building up to the tree lighting.
• Christmas Craft Fair at Belsay Hall (Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov) — local makers inside the hall itself. Pair it with the Snowman trail.
• Amble Christmas Lights Switch-On (Sun 22 Nov, 5–7pm) — short and early, so ideal with little ones, and there's fish and chips by the harbour afterwards.
• Alnwick Castle Christmas Fair (Tue 24 – Wed 25 Nov) — a rare look inside Alnwick Castle out of season, with artisans in the Guest Hall.
• Yule at Ad Gefrin, Wooler (from Thu 26 Nov) — an Anglo-Saxon midwinter rather than a Dickensian Christmas.
• The Sill Christmas Fair (Fri 27 – Sat 28 Nov) — handmade gifts with Hadrian's Wall on the doorstep.

The Big Weekend: 28–29 November

If you can only pick one weekend before Christmas, this is it.

• Ford & Etal Christmas Market — our pick: 70+ stalls across Ford, Ford Castle, Etal and Heatherslaw, linked by the light railway and a vintage bus.
• Christmas at Cragside opens — A Journey Through Fairyland in the house and the world's tallest bedded Christmas tree lit up outside. The car parks filled up last year, so arrive early.
• Kielder Winter Wonderland opens at Kielder Water & Forest Park — a full day in the forest with Mrs Christmas, the elves and Father Christmas. Book ahead.
• Live folk music at Wallington — in the house on both days, free with admission, and the grounds are dog-friendly, so Meg's coming.
• Bamburgh and Bedlington switch-ons (Sat 28 Nov) — village lights beneath the castle, or an afternoon of fun in Bedlington Market Place.

December

• Christmas in Blyth (1–19 Dec) — festive markets and an Advent Trail around the town centre.
• Festive steam trains on the Aln Valley Railway (selected weekends from 5 Dec) — from Lionheart Station, Alnwick. Book early.
• Hexham Christmas Market (Sat 12 Dec) — stalls along Beaumont Street and inside Hexham Abbey. Come by train if you can.

Running All Season

These are on most days, so they work whenever you've got a free afternoon:

• A Christmas Carousel, Bamburgh Castle — until 3 January (closed 25–26 December)
• Walking with The Snowman, Belsay — until 10 January
• Winter Lights, The Alnwick Garden & Lilidorei — 20 November to 3 January
• Christmas at Cragside — 28 November to 3 January

Know Something We've Missed?

We'd love to hear about it, whether it's a village switch-on, a makers' market or a carol concert in a church hall. Tell us below and we'll check it out for the next update.